News
Kansas College Offers Speech Course Online
Southwestern College Professional Studies is now offering its course in public speaking online. The course is based on the long-time standard textbook The Art of Public Speaking and is the same speech course Professional Studies has been offering on ground. However, the latest edition of the textbook features a connection to modern software that allows learners to complete the course online. The new edition offers a revolutionary digital experience – McGraw-Hill Connect Lucas and Connect Lucas Plus, which allows students and instructors to access all course materials, including a complete media and research library, study aids and speech preparation and assessment tools, from a single place, connectlucas.com.
“We have students from all over the world in many different time zones, which limits the usefulness of two-way, real-time interactive technology,” says course instructor Gary Rees. “The unique nature of this program allows learners to upload their four required speeches to a central location where they can view and critique the speeches of other students and learn from each other.”
With Connect Lucas, students use the traditional printed text. Specially marked icons in the text guide students to the media-rich, interactive features available at connectlucas.com. Connect Lucas Plus allows students and instructors to access the textbook from connectlucas.com. As students read the book online, linked icons guide them to embedded media-rich, interactive features.
“We’re excited to offer this important class online,” said Karen Pedersen, Vice president for Southwestern College Professional Studies. “The ability to communicate effectively has always been important. This class will give learners the basics of good speechmaking along with exposure to technology relevant to today’s working environment.”
Southwestern College is a private institution granting undergraduate and graduate degrees and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. More than 1,900 students attend classes at the main Winfield campus, at five Professional Studies sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, or online around the world. Professional Studies delivers programs for adult learners with three or more years of full-time work experience.
